Chow’s legal team had hoped lifting the gag order would allow them to present their side of the story in the media.

“We wanted to be able to show some exonerating information to the press so the public could get a more balanced opinion of him and he could have a fair trial when we do go to trial,” said attorney Curtiss Briggs.

The allegations against Chow in this case did not include either gang or firearm charges, for example, Briggs said.

“There was a lot of bad press in the beginning. It was a convoluted, complicated indictment. It wasn’t clear to a lot of people.”